Here’s the Summary of the report from the UK Rail Accident Investigation Branch:

At 00:16 hrs on 5 June 2011, a Manchester Metrolink tram struck and fatally injured a pedestrian.

The tram was approaching Piccadilly Gardens, from the direction of Market Street, at a speed of about 9 mph (15 km/h) when a pedestrian ran into its path. The pedestrian appeared to become aware of the tram and tried to stop before reaching the track, but fell directly in front of the tram. Although the tram had started to brake before reaching the pedestrian, it did not come to a complete stand before the pedestrian had come into contact with the under-run protector. This is a device that projects down from the underside of the tram and is designed to prevent pedestrians from being crushed under the wheels.

The RAIB has made two recommendations to UK tram operators in conjunction with UKTram (a body representing UK tram operators). These relate to improvements in the collection of pedestrian injury data in order to better understand the role of the tram front end design in minimising injury, and to research into the design of tram front ends and their potential for injuring pedestrians in collisions.

I am impressed with the report details. I think they missed some items, it seems like they focused on the tram/driver and pedestrian. They did not go into alot of detail on the site, they did not identify any options to improve. It would seem anytime you have a moving object and the possibility of persons coming into contact you would have barriers. Looking at the diagrams and comments of the person running to get to another tram put them into an area that needs more cautions/barriers. I can think of some flashing lights, rail crossing barriers etc. But seems like this was not reviewed since it is a garden area and do not want to clutter/compromise open design or something like that idea.. Louder horn, could help but in this case of running into a danger zone a barrier would have done more. And with todays increasing distractions cellphone, mp3/music player (headphones in ears) this would make you move more toward barrier. It is hard to make judgement since we have traffic lights crossing without a barrier, but with warning lights. And on the extreme side you have factory machines with hard barriers to keep employees from putting hands etc within.. So how far do you go… OH, I really did not like the looks of that cattle scooper on the front, looked like it could trap some…